Practice-Based Research and Doctorates in Art

Many artists and designers want to do research through making. Some countries and schools offer doctoral degrees that allow this, usually called practice-based or practice-led. The terms are used differently across institutions, so this guide explains the general idea, shows how two schools word their routes, and lists what to check. It does not say that a practice-based doctorate suits you or leads anywhere in particular.

Three degrees that are easy to confuse

These are distinct. An MFA is not a doctorate, and a practice-based PhD is not an MFA with a longer title. Kent State's MFA, for example, culminates in a solo thesis exhibition, which is a different thing from a doctoral thesis. For the master's distinctions, see MFA versus MA.

Practice-based versus practice-led

Some institutions use "practice-based" for research in which a creative output is a substantial part of what is submitted for examination, and "practice-led" for research that is led by practice but may be presented mostly in writing. Others use the words interchangeably. UK quality guidance on doctoral degrees is published by the QAA alongside its qualifications frameworks; we could not read the doctoral statement itself for this guide, so check it directly. Do not assume your target school uses these words as above: read its regulations.

What an examined doctorate usually involves

Whatever the label, a doctorate requires you to show that you have made an original contribution in your field. In art, the contribution may be presented in writing, in creative work or in both, depending on the school's rules. Common elements, to be checked school by school:

• A research question and context, not only a description of your practice.
• A method that explains how making produces knowledge.
• A written text that situates and explains the work.
• A supervisory team and regular progress reviews.
• A defined period of registration, often several years.
• A final assessment, which may include an examination of the work and an oral discussion.

How two schools word it

Royal College of Art. The RCA describes a PhD as a degree awarded for a substantial piece of original research that contributes to the candidate's field. It offers a written option with a thesis of 60,000 to 80,000 words and a practice-based option with a body of work plus a thesis of 25,000 to 40,000 words. It says the PhD normally takes three years full-time, with submission within four, or six to seven years part-time. Candidates are allocated a supervisory team at registration, and Doctoral Training Weeks attendance is required each term. Its page also names an MPhil, awarded for original research and a thesis and normally two years full-time. Two fee bands, high residency and low residency, depend on how much time you will spend at the college. Remember that "low residency" still refers to attendance expectations.

Heriot-Watt University. Its page for a PhD in fashion design under the Design School says the degree is offered full-time or part-time, that places are self-funded and that fees differ for UK-status and international students. The page we read does not describe a practice-based format, and it asks applicants to contact the School to discuss entry. We cite it here as a reminder that doctoral research in design can be self-funded and that you should ask about the form of the thesis directly.

These two examples show variation, not a standard. Word counts, durations and balance between practice and text differ by institution.

Funding and bodies

Research councils fund doctoral and other research in some countries. In the UK, the Arts and Humanities Research Council describes itself as funding original research across the whole range of the arts and humanities. We have not verified how a given council treats practice-led applications; check the council's own pages and your school's funding page. See MFA funding for the language of guaranteed versus competitive funding, which applies to doctoral offers too.

Is a practice-based doctorate right for you?

We cannot say. Questions that help you think:

1. Is your question one that making can help answer, and can you state it in words?
2. Do you want to write at length alongside making?
3. Are you prepared for the time commitment and for supervision and review?
4. Does a school in your country or the one you want to move to offer it?
5. What will it cost, and is funding available?

If your interest is mainly art history or theory, read studio practice versus art history. For the application itself, read applying for an art PhD.

What to confirm with each school

• The exact degree title and the level it sits at in its national framework.
• Whether a creative component is examined, and how it is documented and assessed.
• The word count and any limits on the written text.
• Whether work made before registration counts. Some institutions restrict this; ask.
• Residency and attendance expectations, fees, and supervisor allocation.

Browse our PhD programs listings, and always confirm regulations with the school's research degrees office.